Social grants saga: Bathabile Dlamini faces PROSECUTION for perjury

The Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) has confirmed that former Social Development minister Bathabile Dlamini will be prosecuted for perjury in relation to the 2016 social grants crisis.

Dlamini is accused of lying under oath during an inquiry into the social grants saga that was instituted by the Constitutional Court in 2017.

The company Cash Paymaster Services’ (CPS) contract with the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) to distribute the grants had expired and was renewed on several occasions. Dlamini was accused of not properly presiding over the matter and failing to ensure that Sassa was better equipped to take over the issuing of payments to grant recipients.

In September 2018, the highest court in the land found that Dlamini had been negligent in her handling of the crisis and ordered her to pay a portion of the costs of litigation brought by the organisations Black Sash and Freedom Under Law (FUL).

Black Sash on Bathabile Dlamini facing prosecution

The Centre for Applied Legal Studies’ Ariella Scher, which represented Black Sash says the Director of Public Prosecutions in Gauteng has issued a summons for Bathabile Dlamini to appear in the Johannesburg Regional Court on 21 September.

“Earlier this year, we noted that Minister Dlamini had finally complied with the Constitutional Court’s order to pay the legal costs she owed to our organisations,” Scher said.

“The decision to prosecute her for perjury sends the message once again that everyone is equal before the law and even those occupying some of our highest offices must be held accountable for their actions.”

The Centre for Applied Legal Studies’ Ariella Scher

Black Sash’s executive director Rachel Bukasa says this is a significant moment for holding public officials personally accountable for the execution of their duties and to protect the integrity of the social security system.

“The Black Sash remains committed to its goal to ensure that the right to social security is fully realised. While are pleased that the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant has been reinstated with the eligibility criteria expanded to include unemployed caregivers, we will continue to advocate for permanent social assistance for the unemployed while a universal basic income remains the ultimate aim,” Bukasa said.